The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-26
PARTIES AND HIGH LICENSE.

Some of the Facts to Show Who Are the
Friends and Advocates of the Principle.
Philadelphia Press.
The following paragraph we take from the col
umns of that steadfast Democratic journal, the
st. Louis Republican:
High license is the proof of high intelligence
Republican contemporary. the PhiadePhia Press tells
us without telling why the Republican party has
been SO persistent in opposing It,
This makes it interesting to inquire briefly
into the status OF high license as political issue
and the attitude which the two great parties
have assumed towards it, Let us
The high license law now in successful opera
ton in Illinois was enacted by Republican Leg
islature in spite of Democratic votes and infiu-
e2ce.
The Scott law in Ohio, which afforded ample
protection against free whisky and unlimited
saloons enacted by Republican Legisla-
ture nullified by Democratic Supreme Court.
and re enacted in the Dow law py another Re-
publican Legislature. In the interval the polit-
ical complexion of the Supreme Court
was changed by the election of another
Republican Judge, and the perpetuty Of the first
practical liquor law Ohio has possessed in years
depends upon the Republican majority in that
tribunal
license bill promised by Republican conventions,
enacted by a Republican Legislature and signed
by Republican Governor. against the deter
mined, constant and unreenting opposition OF
the Democracy, aided and abetted by the organ
lied liquor interests
Wisconsin enjoys a useful and satisfactory
llgl-uc0QSe system, secured TO uer W a 1epuO-
lican Legislature in spite of the almost unani-
nous opposition of the Democrats.
The same story is true of Minnesota and Me-
braska, where high intelligence has been crys-
tallized into high license oy Republican Legisla-
lures against the futile protests and votes Of
their Democratic minorities
In Michigan and Connecticut, where high
license bills pending before the Legislatures,
the measures are supported almost unanimously
by the Republicans and as unanimously opposed
by the Democrats.
There 10 one page of the record. The other is
even more striking.
When the Crosby high-license bill was passed
by the Legislature OF New York nearly every
Republican member voted for il. ard all but
three Democratic mem bers voted against il. The
measure was vetoed by Democratic Governor,
and the Vedder BILL which embodied substan.
TALLY the same principles as the Crosby bill, is
now pending, with the party lines drawn as they
were the former measure.
In Delaware an attempt to pass hieh-license
act was promptly defeated by Democratic votes,
and the advocates of temperance reform have
nothing to hope for in that State until high in
telligence rises to control through Republican
ascendency.
There is no excuse for Misunderstanding the
attitude of the parties on the high license issue
Neither party has made any effort to conceal it's
true position. The Republican party is. by
pledge and performance. committed in favor OF
zion and deed uncompromsingly opposed TO il
The line has been sharply drawn. and il is stroER
straight and clear. The Republican party pro-
poses TO face the issue and take theconsequences
and it insists that the Democracy shall do the